Trust before telescopes
- Grant and Katrina Harkness
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
Extraordinary astronomy is table stakes for us. What differentiates a BSV activation is the structure around it. Our Client Privacy Agreement (CPA) is not fine print. It is the spine that informs guest flow, staffing, photography, data handling, and the quiet choreography that makes UHNW guests feel safe, seen, and unobserved at the same time. When privacy becomes design, luxury becomes effortless.
The Client Privacy Agreement, translated into practice
1) Guest flow: movement that respects invisibility
No congregant lines. We use micro-queues and host-curated sequencing so guests feel invited rather than exposed.
Opt-in visibility only. VIPs are guided through side paths and discreet holds. Names are never voiced in public space.
Time windows over time slots. Windows reduce friction and allow staff to shape who appears near whom.
2) Roles and scripts: the human layer of discretion
Single visible lead. One identifiable host is accountable for privacy decisions on site.
Scripted deflection. Staff practice language that protects anonymity and reduces onlookers without creating drama.
Escalation in one step. A pre-named manager handles any conflict or media inquiry. No improvisation in front of guests.
3) Photography and media: moments without exposure
No faces without documented consent. Hands, silhouettes, reflections, and detail shots are preferred angles.
No livestreams from the activation zone. Staff gently relocate user-generated content outside the guest area.
PR micro-windows. If a resort wants media, we schedule micro-windows with volunteers only and a clean background.
4) Design language: privacy built into the set
Low sightlines. Equipment and furnishings are styled to break sightlines from public walkways.
Acoustic discipline. Quiet hosts, no open calls, and minimal mechanical noise.
Brand-native materials. Finishes and textiles match the resort’s palette so nothing reads as a spectacle.
5) Data hygiene: nothing that can be lost can be leaked
Least-data principle. We collect the minimum. No guest lists in open air. No names on clipboards.
Separation of concerns. Ops documentation contains no identifying details.
Retention windows. After the engagement, non-essential operational notes are purged on a fixed schedule.
6) Contingencies: when weather or crowds shift the plan
Inclement pivot. We move to short briefings, meteorite artifacts, and image-led storytelling that keep intimacy intact.
Density controls. When foot traffic swells, we open a secondary greeting point and pause entries for a few minutes to protect the guest experience.
Dignified shutdown. If conditions break privacy or safety thresholds, we close with a gracious script and return when ready.
Why privacy-by-design changes outcomes
Trust creates dwell time
When guests do not fear exposure, they linger. Dwell time lifts terrace checks and increases attach for keepsakes without pressure.
Comfort reduces operational noise
Pre-agreed rules remove improvisation and protect staff judgment. The activation stays calm, guests stay relaxed, and the brand stays intact.
Predictability raises conversion
Planners and executives know precisely how discretion is handled, which improves internal alignment and confidence during RFP review.
Directional value signals from comparable programs:
RevPOR uplift: +50 to +115 USD on a 200-room assumption when paired with terrace programming
F&B check lift: +12% to +25% on activation days
Proposal-to-win delta: +8% to +15% for premium social and executive programs. Actuals vary by season, scale, and execution quality.
The privacy checklist our teams bring to site
Brief the resort. Confirm VIP sensitivities, PR calendar, and house media policy.
Map approach paths. Identify guest approach, VIP side path, and a camera-free buffer.
Set the zone. Furnishings block long sightlines. Host position controls acoustics and flow.
Validate scripts. Front-line staff rehearse deflection language and escalation steps.
Lock photo rules. No faces without consent. PR window only if pre-agreed.
Run the pivot. Briefings and artifacts staged for weather or density shifts.
Close the loop. Purge non-essential data on schedule. Capture only de-identified KPIs.
A short vignette
It is late afternoon on the rooftop. A couple arrives through a side path, greeted by name only once, softly. The host offers a private turn at the eyepiece with an active solar prominence arcing like a ribbon. A photographer captures a hand on the focuser and a rim-lit silhouette, not a face. Servers glide in with a signature mocktail. Another guest steps up as the first couple exits through the same discreet path. No crowd forms, yet the space feels alive. The moment is theirs, and the brand remains quietly in front.
Links to Explore
Access the above link to request a consult and we will map your guest flow, confirm media policy, and stage a discreet, observatory-grade experience that fits your terrace and your calendar.
Comments